Question 1

Does my child need to be fluent in English to attend the Anglophone Section?

Accepted Answer

All Anglophone Section students are expected to have age-appropriate native-level English language skills, in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Each applicants English-language proficiency will be tested during the application process.

Question 2

Why is the Anglophone Section fee-paying?

Accepted Answer

Of the nine International Sections at CSI Lyon, two of them (including the Anglophone Section) are fee-paying.

While the other sections are generally subsidised by their national governments, the Anglophone Section receives no such funding from the British or American governments. As such the APESA charges school fees, which cover the cost of employing teaching and administrative staff and providing teaching materials and equipment. 
 
The Anglophone Section is an Association loi de 1901, which is a not-for-profit association governed by French law.

Question 3

What are the school fees?

Accepted Answer

You can find out more about the school fees here.

Question 4

Where can I find more information about the teaching programmes?

Accepted Answer

Information about the teaching programmes can be found under the Learning menu:
 
For primary, please see here.
 
For secondary, please see here.

Question 5

When are the students in school? When does the school day begin and end?

Accepted Answer

Primary
Students attend school on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 09h00 to 16h30, including the lunch break. There are no classes for primary students on Wednesdays but supervised extra-curricular activities are offered. Please see Primary timetable on the CSI Lyon website.

Secondary 
Students attend school from Monday to Friday and classes may be scheduled between 08h00 to 17h30 or 18h30, depending on individual timetables. There are no classes on Saturday.

Question 6

How will my child get to and from school?

Accepted Answer

The CSI Lyon is located in Gerland, in the 7eme district of Lyon. There are several public transport options available, as well as a dedicated school bus service for younger pupils. 
 
Public Transport:www.tcl.fr 
Métro line B (blue line): ten minutes walk from the station ‘Stade de Gerland’
Bus n° 60 : bus stop ‘Institut Pasteur’ is very near the school
Tram T1: ten minutes walk from the tram stop ‘Halle Tony Garnier’  
 
Car: 
Street parking near the CSI (limited) and the nearest public car park is LPA-Tony Garnier in the rue Jonas Salk. Note : access to the road in front of the school is strictly prohibited for vehicles.
 
Bike: Velo’v (www.velov.grandlyon.com)
Like many cities, Lyon has a bike rental system called Velo’v. The nearest station to the school is ‘Borne 7049 Cité scolaire Internationale avenue Tony Garnier’ 
 
School Bus Service - Junior Direct
Surprising as it may seem to parents of younger children, most pupils at the CSI take these buses unaccompanied, even at primary age. Parents are advised to accompany their children on the bus at the start of the school year, at least for the first few days until the child is familiar with the bus number and the route to and from the school gate. In the first week of the school year, primary children are taken to their bus at the end of the day by a member of staff. After this time, children are expected to travel independently. It is recommended that parents give children a card with their bus number and their parents’ cell phone numbers on it, in case there is a problem in the adjustment period.

More information is available on the school website at https://csilyon.ent.auvergnerhonealpes.fr/vie-de-l-ecole/ramassage-scolaire/ramassage-scolaire-2024-2025-13077.htm 
 
On the TCL website you can also sign up to have real time information sent to your mobile phone including alerts when services are disrupted or running late. Note that passengers are advised to be at their bus stop five minutes earlier than the time of departure.
 
As a final word on this subject, it is worth noting that parents get to know each other very quickly at the bus stops, and parents can exchange mobile numbers in case of a problem. In addition, the bus drivers are very accessible and attentive to children in difficulty for whatever reason. After a few weeks, pupils - even the youngest ones - generally enjoy taking the bus and the independence it provides.

Question 7

Is there a catchment area for the Anglophone Section at the CSI?

Accepted Answer

There is no catchment area for the Anglophone Section but we do advise that potential applicants consider carefully how far they and their children will be able to travel to school on a daily basis.
 
Public transport options are available (see question above).

Question 8

Do you provide boarding facilities for students coming from abroad?

Accepted Answer

No, the Anglophone Section does not provide boarding facilities.

Question 9

What are the canteen facilities?

Accepted Answer

Canteen facilities are provided by the CSI Lyon, our host school, and are not included in the Anglophone Section school fees.
 
Parents of primary pupils should note that families who live outside the Ville de Lyon boundary will not be eligible for reduced canteen charges.
 
For more information about canteen facilities please see the CSI Lyon website:
For secondary - collège, here.
For secondary - lycée, here.

Question 10

What are the school holiday dates?

Accepted Answer

Schools holiday dates are set by the French government each year. You can find the dates for the current school year here. 
 
NB. Lyon is in Zone A.

Question 11

Is there a special needs department?

Accepted Answer

As an International Section within a French public school, the CSI Lyon doesn’t have a separate special needs department.  
 
In the French system, children with special educational needs are usually referred to external specialists and can, in certain cases, benefit from an individualised education plan which is set up by the specialist in question in collaboration with school teaching and medical services.

Question 12

I've been asked to provide proof of "school insurance". What is this and what is it for?"

Accepted Answer

If you have children of school age in France, you are required to provide proof of school insurance. This is known as "Assurance Scolaire" and it covers a child and his/her parents in case of injury caused to a third person (personal liability) or injury caused by a third party.
 
Holders of a comprehensive insurance policy which covers the whole family should look very carefully to check which type of risks are actually covered by their contract. It is recommended that you ask your insurance company to provide all necessary details. 
 
Parents can obtain school insurance from their own insurance company or choose a contract recommended by the parents’ association.

Question 13

What do I need to know for the first day of school?

Accepted Answer

La rentrée is a busy time for all families, especially those that are new to the school and the Anglophone Section. 
 
Details of the back-to-school schedule will be sent out by the CSI administration directly to all families. The Anglophone Section will also make English-language versions of the planning available on the website.
 
Back-to-school meetings are held in Primary (usually for parents on the first morning of term), and in Secondary (a separate meeting will be organised for each year group). 
 
Some general reminders for new families are presented below: 
Confirm the date of the first day of school (la rentrée).
Make sure your child has the necessary stationery and equipment for both French and English classes.
If your child is going to take the school bus, make sure he/she has a valid TCL card, you and they know which bus to take, and at what time.
If your child is in primary, make sure he or she has your mobile phone numbers and the bus number in his/her pocket or in the school bag.
Make sure you have arranged school insurance for your child (see FAQ above).

Question 14

Which school year will my child enter at the CSI Lyon?

Accepted Answer

Year groups in France are made up according to the child's year of birth running from January to December, whereas the school year runs from September to June each year.

ANGLOPHONE SECTION

Cité Scolaire Internationale, Lyon

Community Login

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Does my child need to be fluent in English to attend the Anglophone Section?

Why is the Anglophone Section fee-paying?

What are the school fees?

Where can I find more information about the teaching programmes?

When are the students in school? When does the school day begin and end?

How will my child get to and from school?

Is there a catchment area for the Anglophone Section at the CSI?

Do you provide boarding facilities for students coming from abroad?

What are the canteen facilities?

What are the school holiday dates?

Is there a special needs department?

I've been asked to provide proof of "school insurance". What is this and what is it for?"

What do I need to know for the first day of school?

Which school year will my child enter at the CSI Lyon?

How do I apply for my child to join the Anglophone Section?

What are the deadlines for applications to the CSI Lyon?

Will my child need to come to the Anglophone Section for testing?